A glorious summer day is an invitation to be outside for hours on end—but constant swatting, slapping, and scratching from a mosquito attack can ruin even the best days. Not to mention mosquitoes can also carry dangerous diseases like West Nile Virus. Studies have shown certain factors make some people more prone to bites than others, including being pregnant, having an elevated body temperature, or having Type O blood, but just about everyone suffers a bite now and then.

If you’re convinced that you just have sweeter blood than everyone else, follow these simple rules to keep mosquitoes from bugging you:

Choose chemical-free repellents
The easiest way to banish bugs is with repellent, but you don’t want to douse yourself with DEET every day, do you? Safer alternatives include oil of lemon eucalyptus, a major mosquito enemy. Try Intelligent Nutrients Organic Bug Repellent Solution, which uses oils to ward off bites ($26.50, rodales.com).

Time your outings
Stay indoors during dusk and dawn—that’s when many breeds of mosquito are at their peak biting time. You can see the sunrise just fine from your window.

Toss the kiddie pool
Mosquitoes love to breed in standing water, so make sure to clean out the pool often. And watch your back (and front, and sides) near any ponds or lakes.

Wear white
Dark colors attract the bugs like no other—supposedly because they look like the dark fur of animals they normally prey on. Wear light, bright colors to make yourself less attractive to feeders.

Rethink the perfume
Sure, it’s nice to smell like a rosebush, but at the price of dozens of bites? Mosquitoes love nectar from flowers almost as much as they do humans, so stick with a less floral fragrance for the summer or skip it altogether.

Steer clear of beer
Mosquitoes have been shown to prefer beer drinkers over those who drink water. It’s not confirmed if the extra biting also happens with other alcohols—but just to be safe, keep the bottles indoors.